The Pakistan government on Monday asked former premier Benazir Bhutto not to go ahead with her 'long march' on Tuesday in protest against emergency imposed by President Pervez Musharraf, citing threats of suicide bombers to her as even as she vowed to go ahead with the event.
The Interior Ministry conveyed to Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party about reports that suicide bombers intended to target her.
The government of Punjab province has banned all public rallies under Emergency regulations and said it will strictly implement the ban. The police in Punjab also beefed up security for the PPP chief.
However, the two-time former premier vowed to go ahead with her "long march" from Lahore to Islamabad, which will traverse some 300 km through Punjab ruled by PML-Q. She told reporters in Lahore that free and transparent elections are not possible in a state of emergency as political parties would not have a level-playing field.
On Friday, Bhutto was prevented by hundreds of policemen from leaving her home in Islamabad to lead a rally in nearby Rawalpindi, citing security threats to her. Hundreds of policemen are guarding the house of PPP leader Latif Khosa in Lahore where Bhutto, whose convoy had been targeted by suicide bombers on October 18, is staying.
Barricades have been put up along the roads leading to the house.
Bhutto ruled out further talks with Musharraf on a possible power-sharing arrangement and threatened that her party might boycott the upcoming elections to national assembly if the military ruler did not step down as army chief by November 15, end the emergency and restore fundamental rights.
"In the given circumstances, boycotting elections can be an option," she told reporters, adding a decision will be taken after the PPP consults other political parties.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-i-Insaaf have already decided not to take part in polls held under emergency and vowed to resist such elections.
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